The Italian are more friendly, engaging, and passionate for life than most, if not all, Europeans

In northern Italy, English is widely spoken; more than in France, Switzerland, and Spain

Italy presents a tyranny of options for uphill riding. The biggest climbs are in the Alps and Dolomites, but there is plenty of climbing in the Apeninnes, the Ligurian coast, and of course Sicily. The rest of Italy has great riding too but for now I’m focusing on only the most hilly parts.